Finished projects

SimLab Project

The Mother Project (1997 - 2001). The aim of the project was to develop business process simulation methods based on creative applications of multimedia and telecommunication software, and to construct the Enterprise Simulation Laboratory facility 'SimLab' into the Spektri Kvartti building in Northern Tapiola. In addition, the objective was to develop new managerial methods for business process training and development that apply the SimLab simulation games.

The SimLab-project was funded by the National Technology Agency of Finland Tekes, Helsinki University of Technology, and the pilot companies ABB Industry, Orion Pharma and Tellabs Oy. Hewlett-Packard Oy and Silicon Graphics Oy supported the project as technology partners.

The scientific leader of the project was Professor Riitta Smeds. She supervised the research in industrial management, and Professor Tapio Takala from HUT, Computer Science, acted as supervisor of information technology research. The multidisciplinary research team represented the following universities, institutes and units: Helsinki University of Technology, Industrial Management, Computer Science, and Mathematics University of Helsinki, Communication science Helsinki School of Economics, International Business Espoo-Vantaa Institute of Technology, Communication Technology.
 

Dynamo

Dynamics of knowledge creation in industrial organizations (Academy of Finland, 1996-99)

SimLab, Enterprise Simulation Laboratory (Tekes, 1998-01)

• Tellabs, Orion Pharma, ABB

ProcessGuide

Development of the ProcessGuide business process modeling software (Tekes 1999-00)

• QPR, ABB Control, Sonera Oyj, Sandvik Oy, Orion Pharma, Tellabs

 

Evolve

Experimental visualized organizational learning in virtual environments. (Academy of Finland, 2000-01) 

The multidisciplinary research project EVOLVE (01.01.2000 - 31.12.2001) continued directly from the central results of the preceding Dynamo project, Dynamics of Knowledge Creation and Accumulation in Industrial Organizations (01.09.1996-31.12.1999), both funded by of the Academy of Finland, Information Research Programme.

The projects were led by Riitta Smeds, Professor of Information Networks, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and Head of the Enterprise Simulation Laboratory SimLab.

R&D Net

Networked R&D Process Innovations in Telecommunications (Tekes, 2000-03)

"Knowledge sharing and creation in networked R&D processes in the telecommunication industry"

In the R&D Net project, the question was addressed through an action research in a network of selected telecommunications companies, and an international survey that analyzed the state of the art in collaborative R&D.

To understand more deeply the phenomenon of collaborative R&D, and also to focus on the international survey correctly, an in-depth action research study of selected networked pilot companies was conducted in Finland. These companies have a history of working together in R&D. The case network research focused around specific collaborative R&D projects of the pilots. The research was based on process simulation games that have been developed into a systematic enterprise evolution management method in SimLab at Helsinki University of Technology.

R&DNet was funded by the Finnish National Technology Agency, TEKES, and the pilot companies Elektrobit, Nokia and Sonera. The research team consisted of multidisciplinary competencies from HUT, University of Helsinki, Helsinki School of Economics and Multidisciplinary scientific collaboration with HUT Institute of Strategy and International Business (Thomas Keil, Annaleena Parhankangas and Hannele Wallenius). In addition, approximately one hundred employees from the pilot companies have been participating in the research activities and the steering group of R&DNet.

The project was led by Professor Riitta Smeds.

Steris

(2001)

Retti

The Retti project (2002-2004) was divided into two parts. In the first part of the project the recruitment process was re-engineered to be more efficient. Pre-requirements for the information system were identified in a way that they would support the procurement process of the system. The second part concentrates on combining the recruiting process development with the information system development.

The project was carried out in the Helsinki University of Technology at the department of Computer Science and Engineering in the SimLab research unit. The responsible head of the project was the professor of information networks, head of SimLab, Riitta Smeds.

Brocom

(2002-2004)

HELMI

Holistic Development of e-Learning and Business Models (Academy of Finland and Tekes, 2002-05)

• eWSOY, Radiolinja, City of Espoo, Laurea, TKK

The Helmi project was carried out as a multidisciplinary project in the SimLab research unit of the department of computer science and engineering, Helsinki University of Technology. The responsible head of the project was the professor of information networks, head of SimLab, Riitta Smeds.

Co-Create

Co-creation of business models in company networks (Tekes, 2003-06)

• Nokia, HP, Asuntosäätiö, SRV, eWSOY, Säästöpankkiliitto

The Co-Create project was a three-year research project funded by Tekes. Inter-company business processes and business models were studied in the Co-Create project.

The project was divided into three parts according to the participating industries: IT-industry, construction industry and knowledge intensive service industry. Different participating industries enabled benchmarking between different industries and processes.

POSTiServ

The aim of the POSTiServ project (2006-2007) was to study the implementation of process organization in Finland Post Group. The project supported the development of new services, comprehensive solutions and international business. The central idea in the project was to concentrate on processes that flow through different business units and subsidiaries of Finland Post Group.

GsT

(2006-2007)

HIST

Helsinki Institute of Science and Technology Studies (Ministry of Education, 2005)

• TKK Industrial Engineering and Management, Applied Mathematics, Environmental Protection; University of Helsinki; Helsinki School of Economics

KIMPPA

Innovative service models for municipalities (Tekes, 2004-07)

• Cities of Espoo, Turku, Vantaa, Hämeenlinna and Kauniainen

KIMPPA studied production of healthcare and welfare services for elderly people in cities of Espoo, Hämeenlinna, Kauniainen, Turku and Vantaa in co-operation with private sector. The study was based on the point of view of the end customer i.e. the inhabitant of a municipality.

KIMPPA was a developing action research project. By means of the SimLab process simulation method, forums were created for interaction, networking and cross learning. These were forums where municipalities and service providers could share their experiences and best practices.

As a result of KIMPPA research project a holistic understanding of co-operative networks and supply process of healthcare and welfare services for elderly people was to be created.

OPUS

Urban Planning and Everyday Life: a Learning Process (Tekes, 2005-07)

• TKK Architecture, City of Espoo, YIT, Asuntosäätiö, Ericsson, Sodexho, TeliaSonera, Vahanen yhtymä, City of Turku, Kuuma municipalities.

The trans-disciplinary project 'OPUS - Urban Planning and Everyday Life: A Learning Process' developed and studied urban planning processes by applying innovative methods and tools for interaction and learning.

The OPUS research project met the challenges of urban planning and everyday life by pursuing to build a bridge between the planning practices, scientific knowledge and the experimental knowledge of the stakeholders. The desirable elements of the concept 'urban planning as a learning process' include transparency of the process and interaction of all key actors. The results aimed to benefit and satisfy the members of the public-private-people partnership involved in the processes of urban planning, design and construction.

The task of SimLab in the OPUS project was the development of the urban planning process and modeling of the network, by applying the SimLab™ process simulation method. The case selected for the simulation project was Suurpelto, a new urban area under planning in the city of Espoo, with an ambitious vision of a 'Garden City of Information Age'.

OPUS homepage http://opus.tkk.fi/

CoPCoM

CoPCoM project (Construction Project Co-operation Models, 2008) was an enterprise project of SRV Toimitilat Oy, partly funded by Tekes. The project concerned creation and development of a project development business service model (process guidance system) that could be replicated in different construction projects with the individual needs of different customers. By simulating the model with customers and key partners of the business network it is possible to support understanding, co-operation, innovations and learning between organizations in the process.

As a part of the CoPCoM project, TKK SimLab executed and facilitated process simulations between SRV Toimitilat Oy and their customers to support the collaboration between the companies and the objectives of the project. SimLab acted as a research partner that did research on the process pre-simulation method and reports about the efficient utilisation of the method. SimLab collected material for its research including one Doctoral Dissertation, one Master's Thesis and other publications.

TiVi

The TiVi project (2008) studied the acquisition of IT equipment and related services in the context of public procurement of a Finnish municipality. The scientific aim of the project was to study the costs associated to changing the network partners such as hardware vendors and service providers.

The public procurement legislation requires the public organizations to invite tenders on a regular basis, and the awarded contract shall be either the most financially advantageous tender or the lowest price. However, to ensure equal treatment of the tenderers, the costs of switching partners is not included in the pre-described criteria for evaluating the tenders. As a result, public organizations meet frequently the challenges and costs of learning to cooperate with a new partner, and teaching the new partner to work with them. Often, this process can be cumbersome as large organizations struggle to adjust their processes to these new conditions. Therefore, it is of importance to study the nature of these switching costs to find ways to prevent, manage and minimize them.

The practical aim of the project was to develop and improve the order-delivery cycle of IT equipment of the case municipality.

ECPIP Finland

Engineering and Construction Project Information Platform, Finnish Consortium (Tekes 2007-2009)

• consortium: TKK SimLab (leader) and VTT Building Informatics. Collaboration: Stanford University CIFE, and Columbia University
• NCC, Senaatti, Tieliikelaitos (Destia), Tekla, GsT-Project, Finnmap, Consolis, Ruukki, Tocoman

ECPIP Finland (2007-2009) studied and supported process change in Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) networks. The process change was catalyzed by the introduction of Building Information Model technology into AECO work practices. The ECPIP Finland consortium involved 6 partner companies from the AECO industry and 3 companies from the software industry. Its 10 researchers came from TKK Simlab and VTT Building Informatics. The consortium project was led by TKK SimLab.

The challenging research agenda of ECPIP Finland required coordinated capabilities from the research partners in the consortium. The efforts in ECPIP Finland combined the research capabilities of TKK SimLab and VTT Building Informatics in collaboration with Stanford CIFE. Close collaboration of the participating researchers was considered pivotal in studying and facilitating change in a complex whole. Equally important was the input from the selected pilot company networks which provided the real-life basis for the development of new work processes, tools and business models. Getting to close company collaboration in this kind of innovation networks between business and academia is a Finnish strength, and it is supported by the innovation model of Tekes.

Madeleine

Management, Development, Learning and Innovation in Business Networks (Tekes, 2006-09)

• Finnair, Samlink, Säästöpankkiliito, HP, Kone

Madeleine generated new scientific knowledge on five core research themes

1. the evolution of business networks,
2. collaborative innovation in business networks,
3. the prerequisites and processes of learning in business networks,
4. the management of and leadership in networked business and processes, and
5. the enabling role of ICT in the evolution and management of business networks.

The research was constructive action research in multiple-case design. In addition, an international cross-industry survey was to be conducted for testing the case findings in large samples.

At the same time, MADELEINE supported the development of networked business models and business processes as well as the development of management skills in pilot company networks. MADELEINE provided development projects applying SimLabTM business process simulation method to the collaborative processes of the pilot companies and their partners. The design made possible cross-industry comparison in research as well as cross-industry learning for the pilot companies.

InnoSchool

Innovative School Concept for the Future (Tekes, 2007-2010)

Research partners of the project:

• Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Architecture, Urban Planning and Design;
• University of Helsinki, Faculty of Behavioural Sciences, Dept. of Applied Sciences of Education, Centre for Research on Teaching;
• University of Lapland, Faculty of Education, Centre for Media Pedagogy;
• Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Business Process Networks, SimLab

Municipalities: City of Espoo, City of Helsinki, City of Rovaniemi

Partner companies: Elisa, Microsoft, Lappset Group, Tilamarkkinat, Martela

Dissemination partners: The Finnish National Board of Education; Finnish Forest Industries Federation

The multidisciplinary three-year InnoSchool consortium project was realized in two phases. Phase 2 analyzed the results from Phase 1, tested them further, and complemented them with international comparisons, to develop the new innovative Future School Concept: concrete practices, processes, models and principles that help plan, design and successfully implement the Future School.

The four co-projects InnoArch, InnoEdu, InnoPlay, and InnoServe studied the schools from their own scientific areas: architecture and urban planning; education and the teaching–studying–learning process; playful learning environments; and process and innovation management. The synergy between the different co-projects was achieved through theoretical dialogue, and especially through empirical case and action research on the same pilot schools. The practical results of the research were published as a Future School handbook.

Phase 1 results indicated that the Future School has permeable boundaries: it combines formal and informal learning into novel ways of non-formal learning, where learning opportunities outside the school, life-wide and life-long, are embraced and supported by the Future School. It also combines the virtual, physical, social and mental dimensions for learning, locally and in the global world.

InnoSchool saw the Future School as a systemic innovation of our information society. The aim of the consortium was to further the Future School innovation through its empirical research design that builds on public-private collaboration, a customer-centric approach, and trans-disciplinary research in the pilot schools. The international comparative research answers to the growing multicultural challenges of the Future School.

Additional information InnoSchool -homepage http://innoschool.tkk.fi/

SUSPROC

Sustainable Building Processes (Tekes, 2009-2010)

• research consortium: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, HSE Helsinki School of Economics / SCIR, Helsinki University of Technology TKK / SimLab, and Northumbria University (UNN) / Sustainable Cities Research Institute / School of the Built Environment
• funded by Tekes, VTT, TKK and companies

The project aimed at adopting new processes for eco-efficient building and sustainable built environment. The objectives were to 1) understand barriers and impacts, 2) develop new working processes, 3) develop new business models and 4) develop effective steering mechanisms for sustainable building (SB). The premise of the work was that SB is not hindered because of the lack of information or deficiencies in technologies or assessment methods, but because it is difficult to adopt the new processes and working methods that are required by these new technologies. New technologies are resisted because they call for process changes and also because unknown risks and not-foreseen costs are suspected. These hindrances can be reduced and overcome by seeking for new efficient processes for SB. This in turn entails new decision making phases and tasks, supported by appropriate information and actors with new roles and new ways of networking are involved in the process.

SUSPROC project included four main tasks: (1) Barriers and impacts, (2) New processes, (3) New business models for SB, and (4) Effective steering mechanisms.

SimLab was responsible for studying and developing sustainable building processes in the Task 2. SimLab was to carry out a simulation project related to a case of sustainable, low energy office building. The new process developed in this project should enable the adoption of sustainable building technologies and support actors in

• understanding their own roles in sustainable building process
• understanding and sharing the long term objectives of sustainable building projects
• implementing sustainable building processes

Margarita

Successful post-M&A integration of business processes and information systems (2009-2011)

• Pilot companies: Nokia Siemens Networks, Hewlett-Packard, Aalto University

Mergers and acquisitions are challenging endeavors, which is also reflected in high failure rates. Prior research indicates a failure rate for corporate M&As ranging from 50 to 80%. Failure is mostly attributed to the integration phase. For example, a merger or an acquisition may not succeed if IS planning is inappropriate or poorly aligned with the overall integration strategy. This, Margarita aimed at improving the understanding of the post-M&A integration of business processes and information systems.

Margarita generated new scientific knowledge on three core research themes:

1. critical success factors for post-M&A integration of IS and processes
2. integration success and how can it be defined
3. the influence of cultural differences on managing the post-M&A integration of IS and business processes.

Margarita adopted the case study method as it allows access to multiple organizational levels and stakeholder groups. Information was gathered over time about the actions of relevant representatives of both merging sides as well as other relevant stakeholders such as IT vendors.

Simultaneously, Margarita supported the development of the new, integrated processes in the merged pilot organizations. Margarita provided development projects applying SimLabTM business process simulation method to the collaborative processes of the pilot organizations and their partners.

International research collaboration partners

• Prof. Sirkka Jarvenpaa, University of Texas at Austin, US
• Prof. Karlheinz Kautz, Copenhagen Business School / Dept. of Informatics
• Prof. Lars Mathiassen, Georgia State University / Center for Process Innovation
• Assistant Prof. Minna Halonen-Rollins, West Georgia University / Dept. of Marketing and Real Estate
• D.Sc. Juho Mäkiö, Research Center for Information Technology FZI, Software Engineering / Universität Karlsruhe, Germany
• M.Sc. Stefanie Betz, Universität Karlsruhe TH / Institut AIFB, Germany

Optek

Large research endeavour linked closely to the ICTs at School's Everyday Life Project (Tekes, 2009-2011)

The OPTEK project was a large research endeavour linked closely to the ICTs at School's Everyday Life Project. Joint research effort was carried out in the multidisciplinary OPTEK Project which was mostly funded by Tekes (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation). The research consortium consisted of twelve multidisciplinary research units, 28 enterprises and twenty school projects.

The OPTEK Project aimed to study and produce well-founded and lasting solutions to the educational use of ICT in the everyday life of schools. The project was to develop models, meta-models, processes and contents which were to enable the efficient use of ICT in the study and learning environments of schools.

VISCI

Virtual Intelligent Space for Collaborative Innovation (2009-2012)

A four-year multidisciplinary research project funded by the Academy of Finland in the MOTIVE research programme. Research themes of VISCI project:

1. Communication and interaction in and for innovation in virtual teams and
2. Technology as an enabler of interaction and innovation in virtual teams.

The project applied a user-centered approach that aimed at supporting human interaction and innovation with novel, intelligent technologies. Special attention was to be paid on the supporting role of technological ubicomp solutions.

In sum, this research project aimed to create valuable new scientific knowledge for the information society via a multidisciplinary research approach focusing on communication, interaction, and enabling technology for the advancement of collaborative innovation in virtual teams in networks of educational institutions as well in company networks. It was to develop and test novel technologies that facilitate social interaction and collaborative knowledge creation for learning and innovation. It was to explore how adaptive and personalized technology works as an enabler in learning and innovation processes, encouraging creativity and self-expression among individuals. It was to produce new knowledge on how individuals from different backgrounds interact, communicate and collaborate in virtual spaces to co-construct knowledge and to create innovations through emerging technologies.

Research consortium:

• Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen, CICERO Learning Network, University of Helsinki (coordinator of the consortium project)
• Professor Petri Myllymäki and Professor Patrik Floréen, Helsinki Institute for Information Technology (HIIT)
• Professor Riitta Smeds, SimLab, Helsinki University of Technology (TKK)

VISCI - project website http://www.visci.fi/

VISCI Tools

Tools for virtual collaborative innovation (2010-12)

VISCI Tools was a two-year research project funded by Tekes and the participating companies (KONE Oyj, M-Brain, Lumo Research, MetSta and HaagaHelia).

The practical objective of VISCI Tools was to develop and test in a user-centric way novel technologies and the accompanying management processes that facilitate social interaction and collaborative knowledge creation in networked innovation.

VISCI Tools aimed to demonstrate solutions that can directly benefit the partner companies and public organizations, and could be disseminated more widely to Finnish industry and society:

• improved ICT-enabled processes for collaborative knowledge sharing and creation in the geographically dispersed pilot organizations
• tested prototypes for virtual collaboration spaces and tools, based on open source software
• new managerial principles for virtual collaboration, that together with the virtual spaces and tools enable the novel processes
• ideas for new service concepts and business models for the service providers of the virtual collaboration tools and spaces
• empirical data for the scientific, multidisciplinary analyses and publications in the sister project VISCI.

VISCI Tools was a consortium project based on multidisciplinary research collaboration. The consortium covered the fields of: Management and development of networked innovation processes (SimLab), Socio-cultural and human-centred development of virtual collaborative knowledge construction processes (CICERO), and Tools for intelligent, personalized information retrieval, intelligent team forming and intelligent monitoring (HIIT: AC and CoSCo).

The research consortium of the VISCI Tools project consisted of four research groups from two universities:

1. Enterprise Simulation Laboratory SimLab, Aalto University, School of Science and Technology (TKK), Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Professor Riitta Smeds (coordinator of the consortium)
2.  Adaptive Computing Research Group (AC), HIIT, University of Helsinki, Professor Patrik Floréen
3. Complex Systems Computation Group (CoSCo), HIIT, University of Helsinki, Professor Petri Myllymäki
4. CICERO Learning, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, Professor Kristiina Kumpulainen

VISCI Tools project was to produce multidisciplinary research data that was to be analyzed further and published as the academic results in its sister project VISCI. However, the mutual dependence between data and analysis is high – in practice, the scientific results like doctoral dissertations and journal articles are shared between VISCI and VISCI Tools. A multiplication of these academic outputs was expected as result of the parallel, self-reinforcing structure of basic and applied research.

aivoSenses

aivoSenses (2010-2012) was a multidiciplinary research project that studied how real-time information of physiological data from the participants affect the interaction in virtual group work situations. aivoSenses was part of the aivoAALTO ('brainWAVE') project in Aalto University.

aivoAALTO combined the expertise of the three Aalto Schools to understand brain basis of social interaction, decision-making and behavior in naturalistic experimental settings, such as cinema viewing.

The team consisted of researchers from Enterprise Simulation Laboratory SimLab, Brain Research Unit of the O.V. Lounasmaa laboratory and Center for Knowledge and Innovation Research (CKIR).

The research objective can be formulated into the following three research questions:

• How can we measure participant engagement in virtual teams?
• How can this measurement data be fed back and presented in the virtual teams?
• How does this feedback (loop) affect team dynamics in virtual collaboration?

Innopolis

The INNOPOLIS project (2010-2012) was a partnership between universities and regional authorities in four diverse European university city-regions: Helsinki, Lodz, Thessaloniki and Greater Manchester, led by the University of Salford. The project was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme.

The project focused on regional policies that facilitate knowledge exchange between universities and enterprises. The main concern of the project was to identify and disseminate best practices in these policies.

 An illustrated guide "Building Bridges Between Universities and Enterprises" was published on February 15, 2013.

INNOPOLIS has three guides as its major outputs:

• Policy Simulation Guide focuses on the transferability of policy practices from one region to another.
• Guide to Best Policy Practices for Policymakers conciders policy practices, which are major institutional actions for knowledge exchange.
• Guide to Knowledge Exchange for Policy Makers conciders knowledge exchange practices between universities and enterprises in European University-City Regions.

More information about INNOPOLIS project can be found from the project website.
 

Pro2Act

Proaktiiviset sopimusprosessit julkisissa hankinnoissa – kumppanuuden ja yhteisinnovoinnin edistäjinä (Tekes, 2010-2013).
Proactive Contracting Processes in Public Procurement – Promoters for Partnership and Co-innovation (Tekes - the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, 2010-2013).

Corinna

Collaborative innovation in ICT-enabled business processes and business models (2008-2012); Tekes FiDiPro project

The 5-year Corinna project developed the generic concept for an ICT-enabled collaborative environment for inter-company innovation. This Virtual Value Space concept consists of the required intellectual property management, virtual leadership and collaborative working practices that ensure effective, fast-paced collaboration for innovation in virtual teams.

The Virtual Value Space (VVS) concept is aimed to support inter-company innovation processes from initial idea conception to the virtual field testing, and for the diagnosis of collaborative innovation capability and of its development over time. Based on the VVS concept, the technology for the VVS was to be developed in parallel research projects. The collaborating universities were to apply the VVS for the teaching of virtual cross-border and -cultural student teams, and for experimental research on inter-company innovation processes. Also a management training game was envisaged.

Corinna was a FiDiPro project funded by Tekes. Professor Sirkka Jarvenpaa, University of Texas at Austin, was SimLab‘s FiDiPro Professor and leading scientist in Corinna. Sirkka Jarvenpaa’s research group at University of Texas in Austin (Center for Business, Technology, and Law) collaborated with the research group of professor Riitta Smeds at SimLab. The project collaborated further with professor Matti Vartiainen (TKK, Industrial Engineering and Management, Virtual and Mobile Work Research Unit).

The pilot organizations in Corinna were Finnair, Finnish Savings Banks Association, Hewlett-Packard, Kone, NCC Construction and the City of Rovaniemi.

ISIS

ISIS  (2011-2013) is a strategic research project funded by TEKES and Aalto University. It´s research examines collaborative knowledge creation processes in contexts where individuals represent multiple organizations and specializations and have different understandings of key issues. ISIS addressed this challenge by examining

• how different understandings among individuals in a project can be joined so that the project can implement systemic innovation and
• how to design interventions that facilitate implementing systemic innovations

The research analyzed empirical data on systemic innovation implementation in projects. The research project was to result in an empirically grounded theoretical model of systemic innovation implementation.

Video Analysis

Video Analysis was a two-year (1.1.2011-­31.12.2013) strategic research project funded by SimLab. The project explored possibilities of video analysis in research, teaching and development in organizational co-creation. The project's goal was to encourage applying new methodological knowledge and practical expertise that can be achieved using video data in research.

Video Analysis provided both support for individual research and possibilities to joint data analysis sessions. The project arranged a pilot course on video analysis in the research of organizational co-creation during fall 2013 in Aalto University’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. The aim was also to build a community of video researchers in Aalto and other Universities.

Virtual SimLab

Virtual SimLab project supported and developed the research processes and practices of SimLab, utilizing the latest information and communication technology solutions. The project has had a big role in designing and building of the new SimLab simulation space.

RYM PRE Model Nova

Model Nova - New Business Model Based on Process Network and Building Information Modeling (BIM) - was one of the work packages in RYM PRE program (Built Environment Process Re-engineering 2010-2013). It examined the added value provided by BIM-based virtual design, construction, simulation and visualization for the strategic and operative decision-making processes of designers, end users, owners and other industry actors. In addition, the work package identified the changes of activity and new requirements related to different work practices, processes and skills, as well as the needs for new tools, division of work, new rules, and new information systems. The results were to help to create new forms of communication and collaboration between the parties in the whole inter-organizational value network.

Model Nova was led by Senate Properties with the following partners: Lemminkäinen, NCC, SRV, Finnmap Consulting, Granlund, Pöyry, Arkkitehtitoimisto Perko, Tietoa Finland, Aalto University SimLab and University of Helsinki CRADLE.

GaLA

Games and Learning Alliance (GaLA, 2010-2014) was a Network of Excellence (NoE) for serious games, and it was funded by the European Union in FP7 – IST ICT, Technology Enhanced Learning. GaLA’s motivation stemmed from the acknowledgment of the potential of serious games (SGs) for education and training and the need to address the challenges of the main stakeholders of the SGs European landscape (users, researchers, developers/industry, educators). GaLA gathered the cutting-the-edge European Research & Development organizations on Serious Games, involving altogether 31 partners from 14 countries all over the EU: Italy, Germany, Austria, Finland, UK, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Portugal, France, Romania and Ireland. The research partners included universities, research centers, and developer and education industries. GaLA started on October 1st, 2010, and ended on September 30th, 2014.

GaLA shaped the scientific community and built a European Virtual Research Centre aimed at gathering, integrating, harmonizing and coordinating research on SGs and disseminating knowledge, best practices and tools as a reference point at an international level.

The other key focuses of the project were: the support to deployment in the actual educational and training settings; the fostering of innovation and knowledge transfer through research-business dialogue; and the development of high-quality didactics on SG by promoting and supporting courses at Master and PhD level.

The NoE organizations within GaLA integrated their activities and resources on a long-term basis through the 3 major activities:

• Research integration and harmonization
• Joint research activities and education
• Spreading of excellence

Further information: www.galanoe.eu

ATLAS

ATLAS - a map for future service co-development (2012-2014) was a project about analyzing, co-developing, and testing a map of collaborative methods for service development, design and innovation.
It was a joint strategic research project between three major units in the field of Innovation and Service Design: two groups were from the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management in the School of Science; SimLab and BIT/IRIS, and the third group ENCORE came from the Department of Design (DoD) at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology (Tekes) granted a 2,5-year funding to the project.

ATLAS Game Documentation (pdf)

ATLAS Planning game (zipped file)

ATLAS Dimensions (pdf)

ATLAS Abroad (pdf)

ATLAS A Follow-up of six co-creation projects (pdf)

Please, find the project's web pages at atlas-research.fi/

VISO

VISO (2012-2014) was a strategic research project funded by Tekes and Aalto University. VISO's target was to research pairing off of public procurers with SME start-ups to create markets for innovations by bringing together supply and demand. VISO researched what hinders the parties from sharing knowledge. Moreover, VISO studied what issues prevent the parties from 1) being inviting to each other, 2) being able to respond to the needs of one another, and 3) being able to co-design a common will and goal concerning the product or service desired. The main focus was to identify the possibilities of boundary objects to facilitate the above mentioned challenges as well as to motivate knowledge sharing and co-designing in the interaction between public procurers and SMEs.

Please find the project's final report at visoproject.aalto.fi

CECO

The CECO project (9/2014-8/2015) answered to the practical needs and research challenges in digital media business co-creation. CECO conducted a longitudinal, developmental action research case study of “Loft Helsinki”, a new hub in the emerging new digital media business ecosystem of Pasila Sudios, and complemented it with case research on Mediapolis, Tampere. Additionally, international benchmarking studies were conducted in Montréal, Canada and in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The project was funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology (Tekes).

CECO project website: http://cecoproject.aalto.fi/

CoCoNet

CoCoNet: Co-creation and Coordination in Emerging Value Networks - the double role of ICT-enabled modeling tools and methods (2013-2015) was funded by the Academy of Finland.
CoCoNet studied project-specific multiparty networks that apply ICT for innovation and for efficiency.

GloVEd

Global Virtual Education (GloVEd) developed a global virtual collaboration project course (GVCP), where students from different universities and countries in different continents worked on a real-life product development case. The project designed the course and technological tools for collaboration, collected data and analyzed it in order to further advance global virtual education. The work of the GloVEd project continued as a part of the course TU-124.5710 Global Virtual Collaboration Project Course.

MARIANNE

Methods and Environments to Enhance Collaborative Innovation in Service Networks, MARIANNE, studied and developed the methods and environments that enhance the collaborative innovation in service networks. The project was funded by Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation, 2013-2015.

MARIANNE project website: http://marianne-hanke.aalto.fi/